The recently completed Camp Bullis Joint Land Use Study, or JLUS, urged passage of the rules. Mayor Julián Castro has vowed to implement the rest of the study's recommendations as quickly as possible.

"Today's vote sends a strong signal to the community that protecting the military is a priority in San Antonio," he said. "We will do whatever is legally enforceable to make sure we continue to be known as Military City U.S.A. for decades to come."

The Army - which has warned that increasing encroachment could force it to close Camp Bullis, which in turn could jeopardize Fort Sam Houston - praised the actions.

But some developers contend the new law goes too far and that the city should expect a court challenge. Others people worry it doesn't go far enough.

Rod Sanchez, the city's director of planning and development services, defended the ordinance in his presentation to the council. The measure simply "facilitates" enforcement of the Endangered Species Act, he said.

It would still be up to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to investigate claims made by developers, and to prosecute those who don't comply with the federal rules.

San Antonio's ordinance seeks to protect habitat crucial to the golden-cheeked warbler and karst invertebrates, or "cave bugs," which scientists say are indicators of Edwards Aquifer water quality and quantity.

As development around Camp Bullis in northern Bexar County has reduced that habitat, military officials have said more warblers have flocked to the training grounds - putting more of it off limits because of federal rules.

Already, some training activities have become seasonal in order to avoid disrupting warbler mating habitat.

Not every property around the camp would require a survey. If a landowner or developer can show the property doesn't have karst caves or foliage used by warblers, they'll simply check off a box and sign the habitat form.

But if the land has habitat potential, a developer would have to file an affidavit that the necessary survey has been done, and include the name of the biologist who did it.

The city then would turn over those forms and affidavits to Fish and Wildlife.

Critics say the federal agency never has prosecuted a developer here for violating the Endangered Species Act. Officials with Fish and Wildlife's Austin office long have said their actions are limited by rules that prohibit them from entering private property without permission.

Deputy City Manager Pat DiGiovanni said Fish and Wildlife officials have pledged to investigate projects referred to them by the city.

"Whether they do it or not is a different story," he added. "But they've told us that they would."

Members of the council said constituents are constantly asking what the city is doing to protect Camp Bullis.

"Few issues mobilize the community like this one," Councilman John Clamp said.

The council has been working on it since 2008, when the Army raised concerns about encroaching development.

After approving the creation of the JLUS, it created several short-term initiatives to help protect Bullis while the land-use study was under way, including the dark-sky ordinance, which was implemented last winter and designed to reduce glare that interferes with medics' night training.